Lanie Steinwart

Education

B.A. in Communication – Valparaiso University
M.A. in Liberal Studies – Valparaiso University
D.M. in Organizational Leadership – University of Phoenix School of Advanced Studies

Biography

Lanie Steinwart began teaching courses for the communication department in 1996 before joining the department full-time in 2000. From 1989 until 2000, Professor Steinwart also worked for Valparaiso University’s information technology office in the area of user support, managing the Help Desk, directing software training, and facilitating faculty courseware use. She quickly learned that the most rewarding part of the job was helping non-technical people understand technical things. That realization — that she enjoyed teaching — led her to accept a full-time faculty position.

Professor Steinwart is very interested in technology and how it continues to shape the lives of humans, especially with regard to communication. Witnessing firsthand how college students were addicted to technology caused her to wonder how it would affect them as the next generation of workers. Ultimately, this curiosity led to her dissertation: “‘Can You Hear Me Now?’ A Phenomenological Study of the Net Generation’s Workplace Communication Skills.”